Yesterday, between the frightening news about trump’s ongoing efforts to undermine our upcoming election and a new construction project in an abutting neighbor’s backyard, I sought solace in the basement. It was cool. It was quiet.
First came two hours of writing class, then frustrating attempts to attach pieces of the giant global warming quilt. I decided to surrender to the difficulties, in a way, by working fast with top-stitched machine zig-zag. The results were disappointing. Some sections had three layers, some two, some one. Uck! I don’t want to mess with this shit right now and maybe not ever.
It’ll be separate, smaller pieces, then. I just spent a fair amount of time making C’s blanket which involved less than satisfactory technique — the sashing, the lumpy quilting — or I might have more patience for such rogue improvisation.
With the world on fire, tried and true techniques feel like a kind of safe-haven. Self care, even. Things are hard enough.
I wrote this post last night. It looks like I’ll be spending today in the basement as well — unbelievable noise — near jack hammering (not the slightly muffled kind we’ve had a lot of the summer up on route 9) and incessant trucks beeping in reverse. A true noise hellscape. Moments ago: helicopters and sirens. The backyard neighbor’s construction crew hasn’t arrived yet.
* Handwritten quote above from Krista Tippet interview with Stephen Jenkins.
Add the constant whine of chainsaws cutting up hurricane debris to the cacophony and that’s MY world these days. Ugh! I feel ya, sister!!
Hope it gets better…hang in there💕💕
Oh and so many trees to take care of! I feel for you! Still thankful no one was hurt. The house intact.
Seems we’re all at the end of our ropes. The combination of giving and gratitude has been my saving grace.
You are a model of those things, Tina.
What a lot of work you are producing…C’s quilt looks wonderful. Sometimes our own private avenues provide the only path forward.
I could get used
To this finishing my of things business.
I like the idea of allowing ourselves the comfort of the familiar. Dee, C’s quilt s just scrumptious! A delight of cool and calm and simplicity! Well done!
So much external to us that we can’t control …
Mostly everything
C’s quilt … like turning the pages of a book … so soothing, calling to be held …
but the noise … the cacophony of others’ desires … harsh, grating, virtually inescapable …
may you find peace … within and without
I got the flipping idea from Jude who called it out as being like a book.